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Percentage of Black FBI Agents Declined Over Past Two Decades

While FBI Director James Comey offered a sobering critique of law enforcement’s handling of African Americans, his agency isn’t exactly a beacon of diversity.

Politico reports that the percentage of black FBI agents has declined over the past two decades.

African Americans only represent 4.7% of the FBI’s special agents, a drop from 5.6% in 1997.

The bureau was hit with high-profile discrimination lawsuits that prompted the FBI to admit racial discrimination in the 1980s and 1990s.

Although Comey didn’t mention FBI personnel during his speech at

Georgetown University, but he did address the recruitment of minority agents during a question-and-answer session.

“It is an imperative for all of us in law enforcement to try to reflect the communities we serve,” Comey said. “Big challenge for the FBI — the FBI is overwhelmingly white and male among my agent force. … I have to change the numbers.”